A Rough Cost Comparison: Riding an E-Bike Versus Driving a Car
As the popularity of e-bikes continues to surge, more tangible benefits are beginning to materialize. An e-bike rider recently crunched the numbers and was blown away by the impact owning an e-bike had on her wallet
Bryn Grunwald, an e-bike commuter and Colorado resident, compared the cost of reaching for her bike for more trips than her car, according to Electrek. Since 2018, Grunwald has ridden over 11,500 miles on her 2018 Juiced CrossCurrent commuter e-bike.
Grunwald’s CrossCurrent 624 kWh e-bike battery averages 35 miles per charge. Grunwald’s travel mileage translates to 205 kWh of electricity. With electricity in Boulder, Colorado costing $0.15 per kWh, Grunwald’s total fuel cost over the five years cost $30.75.
For comparison’s sake, Grunwald calculated what driving the same distance would cost if she drove her 2010 Toyota Camry. With her car averaging 26 miles per gallon and a gallon of gas averaging $3.50 per gallon over the same five years, Grunwald’s fuel cost to drive the same distance is approximately $1,500.
Electricity for the CrossCurrent would average $6 annually versus $300 to fill up Grunwald’s Camry.
Since both vehicles also require maintenance, Grunwald crunched those numbers as well.
The e-bike required a new battery that cost $600 plus maintenance and accessories added another $500. Grunwald estimates riding her e-bike cost around $1,130.75 over the five years.
The e-bike’s total cost was relatively minimal compared to the car. Car maintenance at a conservative $0.10 per mile totals $1,150. This bumps the cost of driving to $2,650.
Riding an e-bike saved Grunwald over $1,500. These savings do not consider other costs associated with owning a car, such as the total price of a car versus an e-bike or insurance, registration, and inspection.
The cost of owning and operating an e-bike pales in comparison to the cost of a car. Many states and municipalities offer or plan to offer rebates on new e-bikes. Federal legislative proposals have been introduced, but not passed, that would provide federal subsidies for e-bikes. As more e-bike manufacturers enter the market, buying a new e-bike is becoming increasingly more affordable.
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